Career change at 54 to Nursing?

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

Schools can't discriminate on the basis of age, for admission. I'm an instructor. During one semester I had a student who was male and over 65 years old. He had retired from his first career and gone into nursing. He did very well.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

I don't see why not. My first partner in crime for my first semester of nursing was 56 years old. Oh how I love her.

She just wanted more carrier options.

CathyLew · Jan 13, 2009

we had quite a few people in our nursing class that were after second careers. (and third for that matter!) Some waited till children grew up, and some even had grandchildren they had been caring for.

I think it all depends on the type of nursing you are going to go into. No one should discriminate based on age, or any other reason. Most of our older students wanted to get into a specilized field. Hospice nursing, or something other than floor nursing.

Im sure the nursing school wouldn't care. The more mature students often have a better track record of not dropping out, and probably are better at paying their bills. I wold go for it. and Good for you!

But, I wouldn't consider dorm life If I were you! :beercuphe

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

i say "go for it". seems the older students do much better than the younger ones too!

praiser :heartbeat

interleukin · Jan 13, 2009

My question to you is how good is your back and your ability to tolerate any/all body fluids...on you?

Then I would ask have you considered PA school?

You need to know nursing has deteriorated into a mass of tasks and duties. The "feel good" nursing taught in schools, while certainly possible, is becoming more an exception that the rule...especially if you will be working on an understaffed med/surg floor.

Journal;s are full of "Ra-Ra nursing's the best" stories. They don't print the enormous difficulties. Those you'll find in these pages.

Good luck in whatever you do!

SoundofMusic · Jan 13, 2009

As long as your health is good, and you can withstand a very demanding 12 hour shift, can pass the courses, etc. you CAN enter the field at a late age. They need nurses so they don't discriminate much.

I entered at 44 and am doing fine. Yes, I get tired, but everyone does. It has CURED any and all insomnia I've ever had.

starletRN · Jan 13, 2009

If it's something you really want to do then go for it. Two of my classmates who I am good friends with graduated along with me. They're both in their 50s.

Not to say that younger students don't do as well, but it does seem the older ones are more determined and know that you can't stay up til 2 in the morning studying for a test with nothing but Coke and Doritos in your system. LOL

deleern · Jan 13, 2009

I Did very well I went back to school at 45. I owned my own business and sold it at it peak thank goodness.

Will be 50 soon and work as RN Charge a lovely nursing home. I love my work. I do not want to work in an understaffed med surge. or ER. I loved school and would go back for my masters in a heartbeat if it wern't so expensive.

I assume you will do LPN and then RN in a community college that is the quickest way to acheive your RN.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

I say go for it. I started NS at 19 years old, and some of my favorite class mates were in their 50's and up. One man was atleast 60 something and I thought it was cute how he and his 25 year old daughter were in the same class. Age doesn't matter. What matters is determination and hard work ! The younger people in my class weren't as dedicated as I was. They were focused on going out drinking and partying. So, I ended up with study partners older enough to be my mom and grandparents ! We had alot of fun. I kept them young, and they gave me lots of wisdom. Most of them had sharp mines as well, sometimes even put me to shame. Good luck !

joni55 · Jan 13, 2009

Hi I am a 58 year old new LPN grad (August 08).. I needed a new career fast because previous job didn't pay well enough to support my self and two teens after a divorce. I was scared at first but did very well in school and was pleasantly surprised because I never considered myself a "good" student. My maturity and life experiences did wonders for me. I found school to be a challenge and I was up for it ! My scores on tests became my "paycheck" and I found myself studying even harder for the next one. I am now an LPN and may become RN-first I want to get this job thing underway-just started new job at ALF and still in orientation-that's another story! Good luck. You can do it!

firstyearstudent · Jan 13, 2009

Go for it. My advice would be to go into a direct entry master's degree program so that you can keep your options open in terms of getting a desk job. At 44 (been a nurse for two years) I am already feeling very tired at the end of a busy 12 hour shift. I wonder how I will do beside nursing in 10 years. I already had a bachelor's degree in philosophy but opted for an ADN at the community college and now I'm regretting it. For about the same amount of time investment (3 years), I could have gotten a master's degree.